WCC News: WCC central committee concludes meeting with call to reconciliation in a fragmented world

The central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has concluded its week-long meeting in Geneva with a call to turn to God as a worshipful, thankful, and hopeful people. 7 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland: WCC central committee vice-moderator Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley preaches during closing prayer of the World Council of Churches central committee, gathered in Geneva on 21-27 June 2023 for its first full meeting following the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 27 June 2023 “Motivated by our hope in Christ, let us continue to play our part in God’s mission to the whole world as agents of reconciliation in a broken and fragmented world,” said the committee’s vice-moderator, Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley, in her sermon at the meeting’s closing prayer on 27 June. “We return to situations of distress and dissatisfaction, pain and suffering but our spirit of thanksgiving will serve as a source of inspiration to fellow believers and witness to unbelievers and seekers as we keep focus on the work of God in Jesus Christ,” said Hyde Riley. Hymns, prayers, and readings at the closing prayer were drawn from the spiritual life resources of the WCC’s 8th Assembly which met around the theme “Turn to God: Rejoice in Hope” in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1998. “We are returning to different expressions of life and circumstances. For some we will return to a life filled with insecurity and uncertainty and for others to life and circumstances that are spiralling out of control,” said Hyde Riley, general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union.  “And so today, in these final moments of our meeting as we prepare to make our journey back home, we are invited to embrace the invitation - ‘Turn to God: Rejoice in Hope,’” she continued. The WCC central committee serves as the chief governing body of the WCC between its assemblies. This year’s meeting from 21 to 27 June in Geneva was the first since the central committee was elected at the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2022. “Let us go from here to the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and Antarctica, yes to the ends of the earth, committed to addressing the inequitable distribution of the world’s resources, the irresponsible practices which exploit the environment resulting in food insecurity, poverty, and conflicts,” said Hyde Riley. “Motivated by hope, which is assured though not yet fully realized, we press on, addressing crime, racism, misogyny, divisiveness, hate, greed, conflicts, and wars,” said Hyde Riley.  “As we go, let us leave this place worshipful, thankful, and rejoicing in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit as we turn to God in Christ.”  Photo gallery of the Closing prayer of the WCC Central Committee 2023 Photo gallery of the WCC Central committee meeting WCC Central committee meeting, June 2023 27 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland: WCC central committee vice-moderator Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley preaches during closing prayer of the World Council of Churches central committee, gathered in Geneva on 21-27 June 2023 for its first full meeting following the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland